County Officials Could Be Jailed If Convicted of Sunshine Law Violation

In an unusually stringent approach to the enforcement of open government laws, the Oklahoma provides for criminal penalties for those who don’t comply with statutory requirements that government decision-making be conducted in the sunshine.

Now eight officials including the Okmulgee County sheriff and city police chief are defendants in a misdemeanor case that charges them with violating the state Open Meeting Act by unauthorized voting in executive session, reports the Oklahoman.

If convicted, they could be sentenced to as much as one year in jail and a $500 fine.